Padding for presses or the like



Jan. 30, 1951 c. G. YOUNG x-:TAL 2,539,715

PADDING FOR PRESSES OR THE LIKE Filed NOV. 2l, 1949 INVENTORS` CHARLES 6. YOUNG ELME? G. HOL/ ER A 7' TOR/VEY Patented Jan. 30, 1951 `UNITED STATES TNT GFFICE PADUNG'FQR PRESSES 0R THE LIKE fornia Application November 21, 1.949,:Serial No. 128,572

9 Claims.

This invention relates to press padding, and more particularly to padding adapted for Covering ironing forms or boards such as those employed for the ironing of Y,cloth shirts or other cloth articles, although the principal constructional features of the invention are applicable to pressing units of other types, such as dry cleaner steam presses.

In ironing or pressing of articles, particularly in commercial establishments, the padding employed on the press or the ironing boards or forms, is very important in determining the quality of work. To effect smooth finished work without wrinkles or impressions from buttons or the like, it is important that the padding have a proper degree of resiliency. At the same time, for reasons of economy, it is extremely desirable that the padding be of such material as to maintain its resiliency over a long time and be able to withstand the relatively high temperatures encountered in such operations.

Material, such as cotton, heretofore employed for the described purposes loses its resiliency and life fast, and consequently has to be renewed frequently. Furthermore, it does not provide all the resiliency desired, and as .a result the finish of the ironed or pressed goods is often marred by wrinkles or impressions left by buttons or the like.

summarizing this invention, it resides 'in a padding for the purposes described to overcome the above problems, which comprises ank inner flannel layer of highly heat, moisture and steam resistant, and resilient synthetic fiber having a nap` side facing outwardly, preferably in the form of relatively thick double faced flannel (i. e. a combed out nap on each face or side extending from an intermediate woven portion), a layer of like material in the form of a single faced flannel v(i. e. a combed out nap on only one face or side extending from an exposed woven portion) overlying the inner flannel layer with the exposed woven face or side, or in other words the uncombed side of the single faced flannel, outermost, and its nap side facing the nap side of the inner layer, and a finely woven relatively 'thin smooth finished cover of the same material over the single faced flannel. The three layers are tightly bound over the ironing or pressing form, to provide a smooth,'highly resilient and heat and moisture resistant padding which because of such resiliency sets the creases in the ironed or pressed article, without causing break- Vage of articles such'as buttons or the like and without leaving impressions of suchV buttons. :A

2 vrelatively soft rubber layer may be incorporated in the padding to provide added resiliency.

Nylon is the synthetic fibrous material which has been found most suitable for the described purpose, although any other synthetic fiber having the above described physical properties can be employed. So-Called rayon fiber is not suitable because of its lack of heat resistance; and in this connection, the preferred nylon fiber should be virgin nylon as regenerated nylon ber is not heat resistant to the extent required in pressing or ironing operations.

In the drawings, the invention is illustrated in connection with a well known shirt ironing unit employed widely in commercial establishments. However, it is to be understood that the padding of the invention can be employed with other types of machines.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a more or less schematic perspective View of the shirt ironing unit; with portions of the padding shown broken away and lifted to illustrate more clearly the construction;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged horizontal fragmentary section taken in a plane indicated byline 2 2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of an extensible wing on such machine with the padding of the in- 'vention secured thereon;

Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 3 with parts of the padding shown broken away and lifted to illustrate more clearly the construction;

Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8 form, respectively, an exploded side elevational View of the wing with the various layers of the padding.

With reference to Fig. 1, the shirt ironing form comprises a body portion 2 of suitable metal provided with extensible and retractable side wings 3 also of metal. In the operation of this form, the sleeves, cuffs and collars of the shirt are ironed beforehand in any suitable manner, and then the shirt is placed on the form. The wings 3 are next projected outwardly by suitable mechanism (not shown) to effect a tight tof the shirt on the form, in accordance with the size of the shirt being ironed. The form is mounted on suitable mechanism (not shown) which rst presses one side of the body of the shirt against a heated ironing plate, under control of the operator, and next the opposite side of the shirt is pressed against the ironing plate. Thus, the body of the shirt is ironed quickly, after which the shirt is removed, all ironed; and another `shirt is then placed on the form for vironing.

Inasinuch as the body portion 2 of the form is subjected to the greatest pressure, it is provided over its front and back with a cover sheet Il of relatively soft rubber, preferably semi-hard rubber, but which may be sponge rubber, about 1 inch thick to provide a resilient foundation sheet or layer for the padding structure of the invention; the rubber being of any suitable type capable of withstanding the heat encountered in ironing. Next, over the rubber foundation sheet is placed, the preferred double faced flannel virgin nylon sheet or pad 6 which provides a tough resilient inner layer of the padding. Although it is desirable for enhanced resiliency that this pad 6 be of double faced flannel of the material related, so that it has a resilient wool-like nap l on each side combed out from an intermediate woven portion 8, it may be formed of a pair or even more of single faced flannel sheets of the material described, arranged so that a nap side will face outwardly as is the case with the double faced flannel layer.

Overlying the double faced flannel sheet 6 is another sheet 9 of single faced virgin nylon flannel with its nap side I I facing a nap side of the double faced flannel sheet 6 in contact therewith, and its exposed relatively smooth finely woven unnapped side I2 outermost with respect to said double faced layer. This single faced flannel layer 9 arranged as described, is important in providing freedom from impressions which might be caused by buttons or the like. This is so because the face to face nap sides 'I and El of the double faced flannel layer 6 and the single faced flannel layer 9, respectively, provide efficacious cushioning and resiliency while the outermost ilnely woven side I2 of the single faced flannel layer provides the requisite smoothness.

For enhancement of resiliency, instead of placing the relatively soft rubber sheet or layer d directly against the body 2 of the form, it may be placed between layers of the synthetic fibrous sheets, as is disclosed in assignees copending application, Serial No. 128,571, filed November 2l, 1949, by the same inventors, which claims an embodiment of the invention for a dry cleaner steam buck, wherein it is not desirable to place the rubber directly adjacent the buck because of the direct contact with the steam from the buck. However, since steam is not emitted from the body 2 of the ironing form, it is preferred to apply the rubber sheet 4 directly over the body 2.

The flannel sheets may be of any suitable weight available on the market. Most desirable weights range from oz. to 33 cz. per square yard.

For all practical purposes, a single layer 6 of the double faced flannel and a single layer 9 of the single faced flannel will suillce. However, more than one layer of each of these materials may be employed for added resiliency. In such event, it is important that the relatively smooth nely woven side I2 of the overlying single faced flannel be outermost to obtain the requisite smoothness, and that a nap side of the inner flannel layer face outwardly.

A nal outer cover I3 is provided for the padding which aids in obtaining the smooth nish on the goods, such cover also being of virgin nylon material with a ilnely woven weave so that it has a relatively fine woven finish on each side. Such weave is preferably a twill weave but it may be a plain weave or any other type of ilne weave which will provide a smooth finish. A suitable 4 weight for cover I3 is between 3 oz. to '7 oz. per square yard.

All the sheets of the padding structure are fastened at their lower ends on laterally projecting spikes I4 provided at each side of the body 2 adjacent its lower end; and the padding is tightened to llt smoothly and evenly over the body of the form by means of the usual tightening handles I6 with which the machine is provided.

With respect to the padding structure for each wing 3, it is essentially the same as the padding structure described for body 2, except that the rubber foundation sheet is omitted because it is not necessary on the wing inasmuch as the wing is not subjected to the extent of pressure that the body 2 is. Thus, the wing padding structure comprises the preferred inner double faced virgin nylon flannel I'I of the same material as sheet B, the overlying single faced virgin nylon flannel I8 also of the same material as sheet 9 and positioned with the nap side I8' facing sheet I'I and the woven unnapped side I9 outermost, and the nal ilnely woven virgin nylon cover 20 of the same material as cover I3.

With particular reference to Figs. 5 through 8, it will be noted that the padding structure for the wing is formed so that it may be easily placed on the wing when replacement is necessary. In this connection, the double faced flannel pad Il is cut to t the wing and is merely folded over each of the opposite sides of wing 3. However, the single faced flannel I8 which is also cut to llt the wing, is sewed, by nylon fiber stitching 2 I, in the form of an envelope or jacket having an open edge 22 adapted to be slipped over padding Il on the wing 3. Outer cover 20 is also cut and formed as a jacket to t the wing, by stitching 23 of nylon fiber to provide an open edge 24 which can be slipped over the assembled single faced ilannel jacket I8. Cover 2B is also provided with an inturned hem adjacent open edge 24 which is secured by nylon stitching 2B. It is desirable that virgin nylon stitching be employed for sewing the described parts together Ibecause it enhances life of the pad; as stitching of other fiber may not be able to withstand the ironing temperature. By the described arrangement, all parts of the wing padding can be quickly and easily slipped over the wing or removed therefrom.

To secure the padding in place over the wing, it will be noted from Fig. 3 that cover 20 is :provided with hooks 21 on each side thereof adjacent open edge 24 through which may be placed a suitable metal wire 26 for lacing the entire assembly together.

The padding structure of this invention, not only enables a superior pressing or ironing job, but compared to padding heretofore employed for the same purpose, it materially increases the life of the padding because of the characteristics of the described material in being able to maintain its resiliency over a long period of time, and at the saine time withstand the relatively high temperature to which itis subjected. Compared with cotton padding heretofore employed, the padding of this invention has been found to have a life of 30 to 35 times that of the cotton. Thus, although the materials themselves may be more expensive than cotton, nevertheless because of the increased life obtained thereby, great economy is eifected.

We claim:

1. Padding for presses or the like comprising layers of resilient and heat and moisture resistant synthetic fibrous material of flannel having nap sides facing each other, and a relatively ilnely Woven cover layer of said material.

2. Padding for presses or the like comprising an inner layer of resilient and heat and moisture resistant synthetic fibrous material of flannel having a nap side facing outwardly, an overlying layer of single faced flannel of said material having its nap side facing said nap side of said inner flannel layer and its woven side outermost with respect to said inner flannel layer, and a relatively flnely Woven cover layer of said material.

3. Padding for presses or the like comprising a relatively soft rubber layer, an inner layer of resilient and heat and moisture resistant synthetic brous material of flannel having a nap side facing outwardly, an overlying layer of single faced flannel of said material having its nap side facing said nap side of said inner flannel layer and its woven side outermost with respect to said inner flannel layer, and a relatively finely woven cover layer of said material.

4. Padding for presses or the like comprising an inner layer of flannel nylon having a nap side facing outwardly, an overlying layer of single vfaced flannel nylon having its nap side facing said nap side of said inner layer and its woven side outermost with respect to said inner flannel layer, and a relatively finely woven nylon-cover layer.

5, In a shirt ironing form, padding therefor comprising an inner layer of double faced flannel of resilient and heat and moisture resistant synthetic fibrous material over said form, an overlying layer of single faced flannel of said material having its nap side facing said double facedr layer in contact therewith and its woven side outermost with respect to said double faced layer, and a relatively finely woven cover layer of said material.

6. In a shirt ironing form including an extensible and retractible wing member, padding for said wing member comprising an inner layer of resilient and heat and moisture resistant synthetic brous material of flannel folded over each of opposite sides of said member with a nap side facing outwardly,A an overlying layer of singlel '7. In a shirt ironing form including an extensible and retractible wing member, padding for said wing member comprising an inner layer of resilient and heat and moisture resistant synthetic fibrous material of flannel folded over each of opposite sides of said member with a nap side facing outwardly, an overlying layer of single faced flannel of said material having its nap side facing said nap side of said inner flannel layer and its woven side outermost with respect to said inner flannel layer, said overlying flannel layer being a jacket having an open edge to enable the same to be slipped over said inner flannel layer, a relatively nely woven cover layer of said material in the form of a jacket having an open edge to enable it to be slipped over said overlying flannel layer, and hooks adjacent the open edge of said cover jacket to enable the entire padding to be laced on said form member.

8. Padding adapted to be secured on an eX- tensible and contractible wing member of a shirt .ironing form comprising a sheet of nylon flannel adapted to be folded over each of opposite sides of said form with a nap side facing outwardly to provide an inner layer of said padding, an open edge jacket of single faced nylon flannel adapted to be slipped over said inner 4flannel layer with the nap side thereof facing said nap side of said faced flannel of said material having its nap side facing said nap side of said inner flannel layer and its woven side outermost with respect to said inner flannel layer, said overlying flannel layer being a jacket having an open edge to enable the :50

inner flannel layer and its woven side outermost with respect to said inner flannel layer, and an open edge cover jacket of relatively finely woven nylon adapted to be slipped over said single faced nylon flannel jacket.

9. In a shirt ironing form including a main body member, padding therefor comprising a relatively soft rubber foundation layer over said body member, a layer of double faced nylon flannel over said rubber layer, a layer of single faced nylon flannel over said double faced layer having its nap side facing said double faced layer and its woven side outermost with respect to said double faced layer, and a relatively finely woven nylon cover layer.

CHARLES G. YOUNG. ELMER C. HOLLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,666,870 Beck Apr. 17, 1928 2,482,412 Gershon Sept. 20, 1949 

